Incorporated in 1778, Auburn has an agriculturally and industrially rich history. First settlers included the Nipmuck Indians, followed by the English, the Irish, and the French Canadians, who would establish the first gristmills, sawmills, and textile mills. Swedish immigrants followed and worked primarily in the wire mills. To keep up with the need to transport goods to and from the mills, the railroad came to Auburn in 1839. It extended its service to accommodate passengers making their way to Norwich, Connecticut, and New York City. Local farms and businesses began to emerge; Holstrom's and Champagne's Markets, Fuller's Automotive, R.H. White Construction Company, and Kingdon's Dairy served the community for many years. With its gentle hills, open fields, and close proximity to Worcester, Auburn is perhaps best known as the site for the world's first liquid-fueled rocket launch by Dr. Robert Goddard. In the 1930s and 1940s, the Auburn Hill Climb, a small motorcycle track featuring a challenging uphill rise, drew visitors from all over the country. Auburn can proudly claim to have sent citizens to every war in American history.
